Hundreds of geese are born every year with no name. Cardinals everywhere set out to solve this dilemma for One Ball State Day last year, giving over 330 geese names that fit their personality. Back by popular demand, we are once again asking Ball State alumni, friends, and fans to give these geese a name this One Ball State Day.
On April 2nd, anyone who donates a minimum of $19.18 to the Ball State fund will receive a digital personalized certificate with their name choice for a goose. The gifts received through this initiative will help provide students with relevant, immersive learning opportunities, unparalleled access to leading-edge technology facilities, and collaboration with outstanding faculty.
We recognize that the struggle of naming your little gosling is no easy task; It must fit their appearance but also resemble their personality and character. If you want your geese to join the likes of excellent honker names like Mona Goosa, Goosefrey Mearns, BeHonkcé, and Ryan Goosling, check out our tips below:
1. Name them after a Ball State icon
David Letterman. Jim Davis. Jo Ann Gora. Kyle from your Finance 300 class. Ball State has no shortage of icons to choose from. Equip your goose with a name that goes hand in hand with the Harvard of the Midwest.
Maybe name it after your favorite professor, Beneficence, President Mearns, frog baby, or Charlie Cardinal.
2. Include a fun rhyme in your goose’s name
Hmm…what rhymes with goose? Moose? Loose? Chartreuse? Who knows! Channel your inner Dr. Seuss and come up with a name that will have your goose be the envy of all geese.
If you are truly stumped, try using RhymeZone.com to brainstorm a silly name!
3. Name them after a loved one
As Billie Eilish once said, “Birds of a feather, we should stick together”. Use this opportunity to dedicate your goose to a family member or friend that you met during your time at Ball State.
Maybe you want to name your goose after a sibling, parent, grandparent, niece or nephew, to thank them for all they have done for you. Or maybe you have a nemesis that you believe naming a goose after will give you a profound a sense of power over them. Have fun with it!
4. Use your favorite Celebrity for inspiration
Are you a pop culture addict? Did you host an Oscars party this past month? This method of goose naming may be the one for you! Your favorite celebrity name may just be a couple of letter changes away from becoming something greater…something goose-ier! Ex: Ryan Goosling, BeHonkcé, Tom Honks
5. Name them after yourself, who doesn’t love a junior
There’s nothing wrong with a little vanity for a good cause, right? Picking a name is difficult, and your parents already did the hard work all those years ago. Give your goose a name that will bond you for life.
To help the geese feel recognized by their new names, we encourage you to share their new identity on social media platforms and tag Ball State University. Please note, all names will be monitored by Ball State faculty once submitted. If any name is deemed inappropriate it will be rejected but your gifts will not be refunded.
Start brainstorming and be ready with a name, April 2, 2025, to make a difference for students and the loving geese we share campus with. Please direct your donations and creativity to oneballstate.bsu.edu/goose.